These questions have answers marked "best" by the asker.
January 21
Baking chocolate math assistance requested.
I'd like to modify a recipe to reduce its cost by replacing two packages of an expensive ingredient with a single package of a similar ingredient, plus some of a staple pantry item I already stock. Can other bakers have a look and see if my plan makes sense? [more inside]
How do I fix this door latch that's scraping against our washer?
We are renters who have an interior door with a french handle whose latch scrapes across our washer, which butts up against the door. Right now, our solution is to try and tape the latch down, which doesn't work well and eventually the tape breaks anyway. How do we fix this? [more inside]
Trauma-Informed Films for Young Teens with Emotional Disabilities
It's harder than it looks. Starting Fun Friday Film Fest for middle schoolers with significant trauma and emotional disabilities. Things to avoid because they're traumatic:
any type of violence (so a little swat on the butt is no good, Bambi's mother, etc.);
nuclear families (most of these kids are unhoused or in foster care);
mean to kids (Home Alone);
perilous situations (Emperor's New Groove, Toy Story).
I literally have nothing. Help a friend out!
January 20
Explain my modem/wifi like I don't know anything about modems/wifi
I have a dual-band modem (2.4GHz and 5GHz) along with an Eero system (one Eero pod connected to the modem and two satellite pods). This was all brought in and set up by technicians, and I'm tired of not understanding it. [more inside]
A watch that looks like this for less than $40,000
The Patek Philippe 5227G Calatrava checks all my boxes for watch design: silver or white on black, no numbers, single dial markers, nothing but time and date. It is also $40,000. Surely someone makes a watch that looks a lot like this for less? [more inside]
January 19
Actual value of an ex-laptop
I have some 15 year-old laptops that have truly gone to meet their maker. I’ve stripped them of memory and SSDs (some of them only five years old!). What I have left that I know is of some value is a fractional gram of gold and the cells in the battery. I’m guessing the plastic is a complete loss, but I could probably recycle the metal for a penny or two. What else is in there? [more inside]
Left a sealed container of Haagen-Dazs out overnight - safe to eat?
Bought a tub of ice cream last night about 10pm and just now (3pm) discovered it in my bag. I’m not concerned about texture or taste, just safety.
Dealing with mormons proselytizing at events
How to deal with mormons proselytizing at events in the US? [more inside]
January 18
Need a new work bag - travel edition
I need a new work tote bag to take back and forth to the office in the car and use for airplane travel, with specific requirements. [more inside]
Please help me get over my toxic job, is this normal?
I quit my toxic job two days ago. How can I recover? [more inside]
If you're envious of someone, why would you seek them out?
When I get envious of someone, I avoid them because they trigger painful feelings of inadequacy and resentment. It feels very uncomfortable. But some people seem to keep seeking out the objects of their envy, asking them to hang out, and stalking their social media. This can go on for years. Why are they proactively causing themselves pain like this? [more inside]
USPS first-class postage to Canada
Did the USPS ever have a separate rate for first-class mail to Canada and Mexico? If so, when did this change? (There's just one global "international" rate now.) [more inside]
Housing suggestions for a student doing an exchange year in Paris?
Our 20-year-old son, a US/EU citizen and independent traveler who's already studied in Germany for several years and speaks some French, is applying to the EU's Erasmus exchange program to attend the Université Gustave Eiffel for a year (Sept 2025 to July 2026). Would you suggest prioritizing living in student housing near this university, or student housing closer to the city center, or are there other (somewhat affordable) housing options that would support social immersion? [more inside]
Looking for *live* virtual exercise/fitness classes
I've tried using free YouTube videos, the free Nike Training Camp app, and subscribing to banks of VOD workouts (like alo moves). I don't have enough discipline to regularly make myself use these resources and I end up wasting any money I spent. I think I'll have better luck if I pay for a service with live classes where I have specific time slots I must attend. It seemed like there were lots of these during COVID, but now they all seem to be VOD. Where are they? [more inside]
January 17
positive playlist for these dark times - revolution oriented
Help me build a positive playlist for these dark times [more inside]
Alternative laptop transportation recommendations?
I am coming into a position where I will more frequently need to take my 16" work laptop home, and I'm not satisfied with my current bag setup. I have a smallish backpack for my personal items that isn't big enough for my laptop, but I love it and it's in great shape so I would rather not upgrade that. [more inside]
January 16
I would like a VERY SIMPLE notepad app for my Android phone
Details and requirements inside. My phone cannot do the Samsung Notes app, I think because it is an oldish version. [more inside]
Powerpoint question: mystery color
How did they get a custom highlight color in this Powerpoint template? [more inside]
Texting a landline from Google Voice
What happens if you try to send an SMS message to a landline in the US these days? [more inside]
Personal loan, or deplete savings?
I'd like to pay off high interest credit cards. I have less than $10,000 in debt, and $15,000 in savings. What to do? [more inside]
January 15
Extended-family trip: many adults with no kids, one family with toddlers
I'm planning an international trip with relatives and in-laws. There are two senior citizen couples, and two couples in their 30s and 40s without kids (this includes me). There's also my cousin's family with two toddlers. We did a previous trip that went well, but the requests for the next trip seem to conflict with each other. Do you see a way to make the conflicting goals work? [more inside]
In search of: Hidden DC Memorial Chicken
What memorial in Washington, DC has a chicken sort of hidden at the back or side of the main statue? Am I misremembering one of the funniest details from my 8th grade DC trip? [more inside]
Why does Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs get play at hockey games
I am a relatively new sports fan. We’ve gone to 3 NHL games in the last 18 months and I have an ESPN+ subscription. I am also generally fond of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. [more inside]
Trying to identify a videogame from a half-remembered trailer
Please help me recall the name of a video game whose cinematic trailer involved getting lost in a series of dimensions with a group of other people, doing exploration, and a circle of portals. [more inside]
Making my own vintage Danish spoon basket
Calling all underwater basket weavers - how hard would it be for a crafty person with no basketweaving experience to recreate a vintage Danish hanging "spoon basket"? [more inside]
AITA, HVAC edition
Husband and I have very different opinions about what could be causing our heating problems. He is much more informed about home maintenance. Should I abandon my theory and let him deal with it? [more inside]
January 14
When I mentioned the word potato, he knew exactly what I meant.
Would single or double quotation marks be used for the word potato?
If I can smell weed, am I being exposed to it?
A smoke shop recently opened right next to the (small) gym I go to; they share one long wall. It's not a dispensary, it's the kind of place that sells bongs and vapes and who the hell knows what else. But from time to time, there is a sudden and very strong smell of weed that seeps into the gym. I'm assuming it's because someone's smoking in there. Aside from detesting the smell when I'm working out, am I being exposed to the effects of weed? [more inside]
What is the hardest thing Neil Peart is doing in this drum solo?
Mac scrapbooking / photoblogging / etc tool?
What's a good tool for documenting up one's memories with accompanying images on MacOS? [more inside]
How to avoid getting scammed: car repair edition (paying out of pocket)
Here's what happened: I hit a parked car while driving my friend's car. Left a note on the parked car and offered to pay for the damage. I want to pay out of pocket, because otherwise my friend's insurance rates go up and they are penalized for my accident (I don't have insurance because I don't own a car). [more inside]
Probiotic recommendations?
My wife and I both had a fun week with norovirus last week and it has spurred us to do another round of probiotics. Anyone have any recommendations or experience with particular brands/methods of delivery? There are so many probiotic-enhanced things these days and I assume most of them are pretty much bullshit. [more inside]
January 13
The best of the sweet hearts
You know that Valentine's Day candy that has little messages written on hearts? Where can I order a bag of those that has generally different and better messages on them? The usual bag has fairly blaise stuff that's been said before, I'm looking for hearts that still have the general lovey dovey Valentine's theme, but something more (and better) than the blaise messages. Bonus points if they're humorous!
What do you recommend?
How to keep Windows 10 going after the apocalypse
My parents want to upgrade to Windows 11 so that they can get security updates, which are going away soon for Windows 10. They don't want to buy a new computer and I imagine it would be a nightmare to use tricks to run Windows 11 on an older computer on an ongoing basis. What are reasonable options given these limitations; what are people doing to keep Windows 10 machines going, without getting infected/infested/broken by hackers?
How do I make the transition smooth between current and new job?
I recently got written up last week at work saying if I make one more mistake of a certain kind (wrong item), I will be let go. I have been looking for a new job for a long time, and just received an offer today, for a 16% salary increase, and seems like a much better company, but the just does not start until beginning of February. [more inside]
Is my choice of heater costing me money?
I recently got a new storage heater from the Warmer Homes program, and it's too small for the room it's in. [more inside]
You have a will. How'd you make it?
I need to make a will and I'm just curious, for a California person with money but no assets, no children, no other dependents, and unmarried, what's the best way to get a legally sufficient will done? [more inside]
ID filter: what’s this super long clip?
Scheduling many scientific trials with strict timelines
I need to schedule about 20 trials this year, each with 1-4 prep events and 1-5 data collection events. All of these are on a set timeframe, e.g. the prep events are 7 +/- 1 day apart and the data collection starts 30 +/- 1 day after the last prep event. I need to space these out to avoid multiple events on a day, avoid working weekends, and sometimes allow for overnight travel to the sites. There are also limits on when I can start each trial and dates will be adjusted if someone calls in sick, etc. I currently have an Excel sheet to do the date math and a paper calendar with sticky notes, are there better options? I would love to get a digital calendar that I can update, but manually entering and adjusting things in Outlook is a real hassle and it's hard to check for errors.
Help with rote memorization (and is it just me?)
I have a really hard time with rote memorization (spelling, foreign language vocab, scientific/technical vocab) I've been using the ANKI app, and a word will come up, I'll look at it, and by the time it comes around again, I will have forgotten it. Even if I'm studying a tiny set like 5 words-- it just flies out of my head as soon as it leaves the screen. Is something wrong with my brain? Is there any hope? [more inside]